India and US Has Signed MoU for Development of LIGO Project [ Current Affairs ]

(March 31, 2016)

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by India and US to develop a state-of-the-art LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational - wave Observatory) project in the country. The National Science Foundation USA and India’s Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science and Technology will sign MoU in this regard.

Key Facts:

The MoU will also form a Joint Oversight Group (JOG) with the scientists from NSF, DAE and DST for better coordination of the project.

The project will carry record opportunities for scientists and engineers to excavations deeper into the dominion of gravitational wave and take global leadership in this new astronomical frontier.

Up to 10th April the site for setting up the laboratory in India will be decided.

LIGO-India will come with the opportunities in edge technology for the Indian industry which will be engaged in the construction of an 8 km-long beam tube at ultra-high vacuum on a levelled terrain.

In the recent discovery Indian scientists will play essential role.

The most advanced detectors ever built for sensing tiny vibrations in the universe the machines will offers scientists their first-ever glimpse at gravitational waves.

The two US-based underground detectors are known as

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory

LIGO for short.

One is located in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana.